A delegation from the Taiwan-US Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association of Taiwan’s Legislature said Wednesday in Washington that Taiwan desires to purchase advanced F-35 fighter jets that best suit its defense needs.
Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator and Association Chairman Lin Yu-fang briefed reporters in Washington after the delegation’s meeting on the Pentagon with David Helvey, deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, to talk about Taiwan’s needs for advanced defense weaponry.
The delegation members, of their capacity because the Republic of China (ROC) lawmakers, also met with Gregory Kausner, deputy assistant secretary of state for regional security and arms transfers, on the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Washington Headquarters, in accordance with Lin.
The lawmakers said Taiwan needs more advanced fighter jets and submarines to reinforce its defense, and likewise must gain more international space.
Lin said Taiwan will continue to push for the acquisition of F-35 fighters from the U.S. but also needs to consider buying an affordable choice of F-16C/D jets to switch Taiwan’s aging F-5s, that are expected to be phased out within the following couple of years.
When the us agreed to upgrade Taiwan’s current fleet of F-16A/B fighter jets in September 2011, it effectively ruled out the sale of the following-generation F-35s, based on Lin.
It will be ideal if Taiwan could purchase the hot fighters, that are in a position to vertical and short take-off and landing, Lin said.
But although the U.S. approves the sale, the worldwide waiting list is see you later that it might take 15-two decades for Taiwan’s order to be delivered, he added.
While in Washington, the delegation also met with members of the U.S. Congress including Sen. Benjamin Cardin, chairman of the East Asian & Pacific Affairs Subcommittee, and Rep. Ed Royce, chairman of the home Foreign Affairs Committee.
Earlier in Big apple, the delegation met greater than a dozen of the permanent representatives to the United Nations of Taiwan’s allies on the U.N. headquarters.
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